Skip advert
Advertisement

165mph Honda Civic Type R pickup concept revealed

No production plans, but "Project P" shows the potential of Swindon's skunkworks

It's no good checking your calendar - April 1st was months ago, and Honda UK really has built a pickup out of the latest Civic Type R.

The work of Synchro Motorsport, the team behind several Honda racing programmes in the past, the "Project P" Type R was devised and created in some of the quieter moments at Honda HQ, and follows on from previous forays into unusual engineering in the form of the Race of Remembrance diesel CR-V racer and an estate version of the previous FK2 Civic R.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The concept isn't due to make production and isn't currently road legal, being based on an unregistered pre-production car used for testing the current FK8 Civic Type R, but Honda does have plans to put the car on the road, and project chief Alyn James told evo that the project didn't require many compromises from the regular production model.

> Honda Civic Type R review - Just as mad as the old model?

'Many of the people who worked on this project were also instrumental in developing the road car' he said, adding that this insider knowledge meant there were few structural compromises in removing half of the roof and the rear hatch from the five-door production body.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Advertisement - Article continues below

The only issue they've had in fact has been a small electrical glitch with the rear adaptive dampers, which sometimes throw up an error code over certain road surfaces - though the dampers themselves still operate as intended.

Packing the same powertrain as the regular car, Honda predicts the pickup will be capable of covering the 0-62mph sprint in under six seconds - the FK8's standard time is 5.8sec, so little penalty there - and a top speed of around 165mph, against 169mph for the hatch. It retains the R's driving modes too, so in theory it'll work as well on the track as it does on the road.

'We have a special projects division at the factory in Swindon and this project was a fantastic opportunity for the team to show just what their creative minds could do' explained Alyn.

'The passion that our engineers have for Honda is shown in our latest creation and we are even considering taking it to the Nurburgring to see if we can take the record for the fastest front wheel drive pickup truck!'

With the standard road car completing a lap of the Nordschleife in 7min 43.8sec back in early 2017, there's a very real possibility of the pickup dipping under the eight-minute mark...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Honda Civic Type R (FL5) review: the undisputed king of hot hatches
Honda Civic Type R – front
In-depth reviews

Honda Civic Type R (FL5) review: the undisputed king of hot hatches

It’s the most exciting, capable and well engineered hot hatchback we’ve ever driven, but has lost some of the fluency that made the last Type R truly …
18 Dec 2023
Honda Civic Type R v Volkswagen Golf R v Hyundai i30 N v Audi RS3
Honda Civic Type R v Volkswagen Golf R v Hyundai i30 N v Audi RS3
Group tests

Honda Civic Type R v Volkswagen Golf R v Hyundai i30 N v Audi RS3

The all-new FL5-gen Civic Type R is here, and expectations are sky-high. Waiting for it are the rapid and capable Golf R and Audi RS3 and the brillian…
30 Apr 2023
Honda Civic Type R sets FWD Nürburgring record (again)
Honda Civic Type R FL5 Nurburgring record
News

Honda Civic Type R sets FWD Nürburgring record (again)

Not only is the FL5 Civic Type R the most engaging hot hatch on the market, it’s also now the fastest in its class around the Green Hell
21 Apr 2023
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The new Mercedes-AMG G63 has arrived, and it still has a V8
Mercedes-AMG G63
News

The new Mercedes-AMG G63 has arrived, and it still has a V8

Some of Affalterbach’s range-toppers are swapping eight cylinders for four, but the AMG G-class retains its V8 for 2024
26 Mar 2024
Land Rover Defender OCTA: twin-turbo V8 and McLaren-style suspension tech for hot off-roader
Land Rover Defender OCTA – front
News

Land Rover Defender OCTA: twin-turbo V8 and McLaren-style suspension tech for hot off-roader

The OCTA promises to be the fastest, toughest and most capable Defender yet when it launches later this year
26 Mar 2024
The new Toyota GR Yaris costs £44,250 – too much for a hot supermini?
Toyota GR Yaris Gen 2 – front
News

The new Toyota GR Yaris costs £44,250 – too much for a hot supermini?

Our early impressions of the Gen 2 GR Yaris suggest that it’s an improvement in every area that counts, but can it be worth £18k more than an i20 N?
27 Mar 2024